Alumni Filters

Search

Adam Dixon (Phytoponics)

Adam Dixon won a Shell LiveWIRE Smarter Future Award in August 2017 for his business, Phytoponics.

According to the WWF, commercial farming and agriculture cause huge strain on the natural environment because they are energy, water and land intensive 1.

Globally, the agricultural sector consumes about 70% of the planet's accessible freshwater 2 and around 50% of the world's habitable land has already been converted to farming land 3.

Phytoponics, an agri-tech company founded in Cardiff by Adam Dixon, Luke Parkin and Matteo Iorio, has developed a system designed to make commercial greenhouses more energy, land and water efficient. Phytoponics grows vine crops, like peppers and tomatoes, in an inflatable bag filled with water which is attached to a pump to filter in nutrients and aerate the water – a method known as hydroponics.

There are other hydroponics systems on the market but they use rock pool growing systems, which are expensive to install and more difficult to scale up. Phytoponics’ grow bag – described by Adam as “a Jacuzzi in a bag”– is made out of a flexible polymer which offers high performance, but is cheaper to transport and install. Hydroponics is also much less carbon intensive than other growing forms as it uses significantly less land and water than soil growing. It also uses more efficient heating and cooling systems, making it less energy intensive. As a result, the team behind Phytoponics estimate that their system could be up to 80% more water efficient than soil based farming 4.

We’re delighted to welcome Ehab Sayed to our alumni network!
As the latest winner our of Smarter Future Award, Ehab has won £5,000 to further develop his start-up, Biohm Ltd.
Biohm aims to create a healthier and more sustainable environment with their bio-based construction materials.
Find out more about June’s Smarter Future Award winner: https://go.shell.com/2OOPFFB

Posted on Aug 07 2018 09:59am

‘Due to our rising population, which is estimated to hit 10 billion people by the year 2050, resources will become strained, especially food products. Innovations in the way we produce our food, which is both sustainable and environmentally friendly, will help accommodate the population rise.’
As the global population continues to rise the way we source and produce food will dramatically change. In our latest blog, Innovate UK highlights the opportunities this creates for entrepreneurs and innovators with game-changing ideas, such as Shell LiveWIRE alumni LettUs Grow and Phytophics who are already disrupting this sector!
Head to our website to read the full article: https://go.shell.com/2Avs3D4

Posted on Aug 01 2018 10:10am

‘Ask for help. The entrepreneurial community is fantastically supportive, and most people will gladly help you.’
Douglas Martin won our £25,000 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award earlier this year for his start-up MiAlgae, which aims to eliminate the livestock industry’s reliance on fishmeal by growing microalgae rich in omega 3 and other nutrients which can be used as substitute feed.
We recently sat down with Douglas to find out more about his start-up, plans for the future and what advice he has for entrepreneurs!
Find out more in our latest Featured Business of the Month interview: https://go.shell.com/2LK3Fia